Haridwar, July 16
In protest against the arrest and judicial remand of Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi and torching of her residence in Allahabad by miscreants, Congress workers here took to the streets today. They condemning the Uttar Pradesh government for act and jammed an intersection road.

Two separate protests were held and separate effigies of UP Chief Minister Mayawati and police administration were burnt. Party leaders termed it as a blow to the democratic set up of the country.

During the first protest at Kankhal Chowk, Congress workers raised slogans against Mayawati and UP police. Women activists also joined in large numbers and demanded imposition of President rule in Uttar Pradesh.

They alleged that Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj party has led the state into anarchy and issues such as education, poverty, corruption, literacy have taken a back seat while the government and bureaucracy are making merry.

“Joshi has said or done nothing which hurts Dalits or is derogatory. Her words were misinterpreted deliberately to put her behind bars, as the BSP is wary of the growing hold of Congress in Uttar Pradesh,” said Uttarakhand Congress general secretary Santosh Chauhan.

Addressing the other group of protesters at Dev Pura Chowk, city unit chief OP Chauhan urged Dalits to understand the double standards adopted by Mayawati. “In the name of improving the state of Dalits, Mayawati is only trying to glorify herself and is amassing structures worth crores, while in reality the condition of Dalits is worse in her regime,” said Chauhan. He took a dig at Mayawati’s penchant for installing her own statues. “Great leaders are immortalised by others after they have done good work, but there are some who construct their own statues,” he quipped.

City Youth Congress chief Ravindra Bhatija warned that the protests would be intensified if the case against Bahuguna was not taken back.

The protesters also demanded that President’s rule should be imposed in UP and informed that they would soon be writing to the President and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in this regard.

Notably, Rita Bahuguna has been booked under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, for allegedly making derogatory remarks about Chief Minister Mayawati, who is a Dalit. She has been sent to judicial custody.

A native of Pauri Garhwal district in Uttarakahand, Rita Bahuguna Joshi is the daughter of former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna, and recently contested from Lucknow parliamentary constituency. Meanwhile, among those who addressed the protesters were Poonam Bhagat, Tej Prakash Sahu, JP Pandey and Sanjay Chopra. 

Dehradun, July 16
Following repeated adjournments and chaos in the Uttarakhand assembly, the state government has ordered a magisterial probe into the alleged attack on a religious place in Haridwar last week.

As the assembly resumed on the fourth day of the budget session, Opposition legislators, including that of Congress and BSP, demanded a discussion on this issue under rule 310.

However, when Opposition MLAs became adamant and rushed to the well of the house, the Speaker was forced to adjourn the assembly.

Notably, on July 12, some miscreants attacked a religious place belonging to a particular community in Shivalik Nagar area of Haridwar. The incident led to a tense situation as the mob went berserk and resorted to stone pelting, arson and loot. However, due to immediate intervention by the local administration officials a major conflict was averted.

Meanwhile, as the House re-assembled this morning, Congress and BSP MLAs created a lot of ruckus on the issue while demanding a probe into the matter.

After repeated adjournments, speaker Harbans Kapoor called a meeting of all party representatives in his chamber and discussed the matter. Following this, when the House resumed at around 12.30 pm, Chief Minister Dr Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank described the attack on the place of worship as “serious”, especially at a time when the “Kanwar Mela” was on.

He said it seemed a handiwork of elements trying to spoil the social fabric and communal harmony of the state. Finally, he announced a magisterial inquiry into the incident, after which House smoothly conducted its business.

Meanwhile, Parliamentary Affairs minister Parkash Pant informed the House that the state government was contemplating digging another tunnel on the Dehradun-Saharanpur route near Mohand.

“The existing tunnel is not wide enough and creates traffic chaos.

Haridwar, July 16
With the Kanwar Mela on, one expects that security personnel would be on their toes at any given moment. However, the ground reality seems different.

Albeit elaborate arrangements are in place and the sensitive Har-Ki-Pauri zone has been handed over to the Rapid Action Force personnel, a visit to certain areas at night where local policemen have been posted presented a separate picture altogether.

At most places that are deemed sensitive and special points en route Har-Ki-Pauri, policemen were found sleeping while on duty. The laxity of the police assumes greater significance in view of the ongoing Kanwar Mela and the terror threat looming large on the entire nation.

The Tribune lensmen clicked several policemen sleeping in uniform at many check posts. Even the chants of ‘kanwariyas’ or the camera’s flashlights were not enough to wake them!

From Prem Nagar Ashram chowk, Ranipur police check post, Lal Taura bridge, Chandi Devi chowk to Rodi Belwala, policemen were found in deep slumber.

The situation was similar near the Alaknanda hotel, on the busy Dehradun-Roorkee highway, from where majority of the ‘kanwariyas’ pass.

Similar scenes were witnessed at Har-Ki-Pauri and CCR Towers, from where monitoring of the whole mela area is conducted.

What is surprising is the fact that this is the ground reality after Senior Superintendent of Police Sanjay Gunjiyal has lessened the duty hours of police personnel keeping the Kanwar Mela in mind.

Dehradun, July 16
To meet the worst-ever water crisis in the state in the last 12 years, tankers and handpumps have been installed as part of a contingency plan in rain-deficit areas. The water situation is alarming in Tehri district where atleast 104 wards/mohllas and villages are being supplied water through 36 tankers.

In Dehradun district Chakrata and Kalsi blocks are the worst-hit while in Kumaon Pitthoragarh and Almora are facing acute water shortage.

In Garhwal, 239 wards/mohallas are being supplied water through 83 tankers. While in Kumaon, 322 wards/mohallas/ villages are being supplied water by 108 tankers. Natural resources in Tehri, Almora and Pitthoragarh have almost dried up.

“The contingency plan was operational since May and we are getting funds under disaster relief.

As much as Rs 42.59 crore has been proposed under the plan and Rs 20.9 crore has already been allocated. We have also installed 430 handpumps to tide over the scarcity,” said VK Sinha, GM (HQ), Jal Sansthan.

Further, as many as 16 tubewells, 11 mini tubewells and 438 handpumps have been installed as part of summer contingency plan. Also, 49 infiltration well type handpumps and 25 rainwater harvesting schemes are in operation.

Realising the gravity of the situation, the Jal Sansthan undertook repair work of 2,482 handpumps and also plugged 7,173 leakages. As many as 99 filling stations have been established, and 298 pipe water supply schemes and 250 pumping plants have been repaired.

“We have 17,741 handpumps in working condition, but 3,430 of them are non-operational while 451 are not getting clean water supply. The low voltage problem is being sorted out in order to spruce up supplies,” added Sinha.

In some areas of the state where tankers cannot reach, mules are being used to ferry water and the arrangement is being looked after the District Magistrates of the respective areas. 

Dehradun, July 16
District Magistrate D Sainthil has ordered a magisterial probe into the death of Ashish, the sewerman who was asphyxiated while he was cleaning a choked sewer near the Ashley Hall here last month.

Ashish was not wearing any mask or carrying an oxygen cylinder while he was cleaning the sewer.

The inquiry into the matter has been entrusted to Additional District Magistrate Ajay Arora.

Sources said Arora had alreadysummoned the postmortem report of the deceased and copies of the FIR registered in this regard at Dalanwala and Kotwali Police Station.

In another order, Arora has been directed to conduct a magisterial probe into the death of undertrial Sumer Chand in Sahaspur Police Station on June 28. 

Dehradun, July 16
Two leopards were allegedly killed by people in the state in the past 24 hours. A man-eater was today allegedly axed to death by villagers at Kumrara area of Uttarkashi district.

The villagers cornered the leopard and axed it to death after it attacked and injured a woman early this morning, said Tushant Patnaik, divisional forest officer of the area.

Since the wildcat was killed after it injured a woman, Patnaik said, no action would be taken against the villagers.

The forest official also said that he has been informed about the movement of another leopard in the area and has sent a team of forest guards to the village.

He further added that he would recommend the government to give compensation to the injured woman.

Meanwhile, in another incident, the body of a leopard riddled with five bullets was found near lalwala Khalsa village in Buggawala area of Dehradun district.

Yaqub Hasan, deputy ranger of the area said that the leopard had killed many domesticated animals in the area in the past one month.

Investigations are on to inquire into the killing of the leopard by the forest department. 

Roorkee, July 16
The police has registered a case against six local persons following yesterday’s incident, in which chairman of Municipal Board Pradeep Batra along with his colleague was manhandled on the issue of water logging here.

ASP Arun Mohan Joshi said that the six local persons have been booked on the complaint of Snati Birla, an employee of the Municipal Board, Roorkee.

Though Batra claimed that he has nothing to do with the incident, some eyewitnesses claimed that the chairman along with other board officials were manhandled by the residents of Purani Tehsil, last morning.

According to them, Batra went there to take stock of the situation following water logging in the area after downpour. Several localities submerged after the city experienced hyeavy showers, yesterday.

The agitated residents not only manhandled them but also chased them while they were running to their lives from the spot. Later the police rescued them from a shop, where they took shelter.

Residents who were booked by the police are Anup, Rajkumar, Sudhir, Sandeep, Sunil and Jagdish. 

Dehradun, July 16
The ongoing monsoon sale is the ideal time to shop and pick up your favourite stuff at jaw dropping rates. Since the onset of monsoon, mostly all the small and big brands have come out with various schemes, with almost 50 to 70 per cent discount on various products.

Be it any market located at posh Rajpur road, congested Chakrata road or the most popular Paltan Bazaar the shops are decorated with big banners announcing season sale and luring people to drop in at least once and get idea about their kind of articles.

Sales are on almost everything right from formal to non-formal clothes, shoes to kids items as well as furniture and leather accessories. However, many famous brands such as Benetton, Carlton London, Wills lifestyle, Puma and others plan to go on with price dropping sale till another month, giving people a leisure time at shopping with friends and family.

“We are offering sale from 40 to 60 per cent and the response till now has been outstanding. As puma specialises in sports wear, the sports enthusiasts here are thronging our store,” said Pritika, assistant sales manager, Puma.

“I purchased shoes from Puma and I am happy that because of the sale I got my favourite shoes at a reasonable price,” said Neha, student.

Dehradun, July 16
Since the creation of the Uttarakhand Technical University the approval of the Working Council was not taken in academic matters, leaving room for most of it’s decisions to be challenged in the court.

In the past few months the University authorities took decisions pertaining to Phd and starting of Sequential MTech programme.

According to sources for all these key decisions the Uttarakhand Technical University did not inform the Working Council.

The university is about to start counselling for Btech courses from July 22, which too has been outsourced.

As per the University rules and regulations, the working council has to be taken into confidence before arriving at any decision.

Without a seal of approval by the council the decisions so far taken by the University can be challenged in the court.

“After I took office six months back, I had conveyed to the registrar to convene a meeting of the council but the meeting did not take place.

Only the registrar has the powers to convene a meeting,” said Prof DS Chauhan, VC of Uttarakhand Technical University.

The Working Council is the supreme body of the University and some of its members are nominated by the state government and rest by the Governor. Even election is held for the members.

Matters pertaining to admissions, starting of new courses, appointments and all other decisions are generally approved by the council.

The Vice Chacellor of the Uttarakhand Technical University is the Chairman of the council and the registrar is the secretary of the same.

The Governor is informed of all the decisions taken during the meetings of the Working Council of the University. 

Mussoorie, July 16
Noted filmstar Shabana Azmi and writer Javed Akhtar were in Mussoorie today. The renowned couple was here to deliver talks at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) today.

At the LBSNAA, Shabana Azmi spoke on women empowerment while Javed Akhtar expressed his views on secularism.

The duo addressed the participants for over 2 hours and presented their views on promoting greater empowerment of women and promoting communal harmony in the country. 

Dehradun, July 16
A torn ligament, pain in the lumber region and ruptured triceps, all after effects of a bad weight training routine, is what Akhilesh is left with after he had a dream of acquiring a muscular body.

Driven by a desire to flaunt a perfect body, the likes of Akhilesh can now be found seeking advice at hospitals for their ailments acquired while chasing an unrealistic dream that has turned sour now.

At the Doon Hospital two-three per cent of the patients visiting the physiotherapy center complaint similar ailments.

The injury to the body is caused by over exercising and lifting weights for which the body may not be prepared. “At the gyms there are hardly any trainers who can provide proper guidance.

At times they are ill-equipped and deficient in knowledge. While at home, in their haste to acquire rippling muscles men begin lifting heavy weights without proper warm ups and conditioning exercises which results in wear and tear of the body,” said Dr SK Tyagi, physiotherapist, Doon Hospital.

Health experts say that the practice schedule too should be evenly spaced and weights of more than 100 kg should only be attempted after wearing proper exercising gears, mainly wristband, kneecap and abdominal belt in order to keep muscle stress at bay.

The over straining of muscles if ignored can even lead to disc problem in the lumber region and cervical region.

“In such cases patients experience radiated pain in the upper arm, legs and thighs, a secondary effect of prolapsed disc and even hernia,” said Dr Tyagi.

As a possible treatment patients are advised complete bed rest in the first instance. Depending on the chronic nature of the pain long wave and interferential therapy is also given.

Besides the shoddy weight-training regimen, men looking for miraculous results in order to transform their puny bodies generally resort to pills and diet powders that contain steroids.

“Lack of information about the ingredients of these diet pills and powders, promising miraculous results prove to be counter productive.

“Most of these pills and powders are sold off the counter sometimes in the guise of Ayurvedic pills do more harm than good,” said Dr KC Pant, senior physician, Doon Hospital.

Dehradun, July 16
Doon Star defeated New Gipsy by a solitary goal at the ongoing District Football League at Pavilion Ground, here today.

It was a closely contested match between Doon Star and New Gipsy team. In the first half New Gipsy dominated the game to create pressure on Doon Star team defense.

In the 10th minute New Gipsy forward penetrated the Doon Star defense, creating an opportunity for his team to open the account. But he misdirected his shot to let the opportunity slip.

In the 15th minute Doon Star team was on a counter attack from the right but their forward failed to take advantage of the opportunity.

In the dying minute of the match New Gipsy team’s Kiran played a powerful shot at the Doon Star’s goalpost that was deflected off the keeper’s gloves to deny New Gipsy team a certain goal. At the end of the first half both the teams were locked at 0-0.

In the second half, Doon Star took control of the proceeding from the beginning. They launched a number of attacks at the New Gipsy goalpost. But they failed to give a finishing touch to the sharp moves created by the team. Till the 60th minute of the match none of the teams could manage to score a goal.

In the 65th minute Doon Star’s Rajesh Chauhan played a dashing shot from the D top to beat New Gipsy’s goalkeeper all quarters to make it 1-0, before the match ends.

In the second match, Akranta team and BC Milan played 1-1 draw. Young BC Milan gave a tough fight to the strong team like Akranta.

Akranta team dominated the first half and created some very good moves but BC Milan’s strong defense did not allow Akranta to score freely. In the 24th minute of the match Naresh scored the opening goal for Akranta to make it 1-0. Thereafter BC Milan played sensibly to deny any more opportunity to the Akranta team.

In the second half BC Milan team came up with a better strategy and played some good moves. In the 58th minute Aman found an equaliser for the team to make it 1-1. In the end Akranta team tried hard to increase its lead further but failed. The match ended at 1-1 draw.